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Antigua police kill man convicted in Welsh slaying

Danica Coto Associated Press

Updated:
06/20/2014 06:00:14 PM EDT

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — A man serving a life sentence in the Caribbean island of Antigua for killing a honeymooning Welsh couple was fatally shot by police Friday after escaping from prison, authorities said.

Avie Howell was taken to a hospital after a confrontation with police and was pronounced dead, a police spokesman, Cpl. Frankie Thomas, said in a phone interview.

"He was armed and charged at the police," said Thomas, who declined to provide any other details, including how many shots police fired.

The spokesman said Howell and his cellmate escaped from prison late Thursday but Howell was by himself when police tracked him down in Antigua's southern region after receiving a tip. Thomas declined to say exactly where Howell was found.

He said police were still looking for the other fugitive, Kenroy Marshall.

"We're hoping this one ends in a less fatal manner," Thomas said.

He said authorities were still investigating to determine how the pair escaped from prison

Howell was one of two men convicted in the July 2008 killing of Benjamin and Catherine Mullany of Wales, who were shot several times in the head during an apparent robbery at their vacation cottage on the last day of their two-week honeymoon.

The wife died the day of the shooting. Her husband, who was flown to Britain for treatment, died a week later. Both were 31.

Howell was sentenced in 2011 to three consecutive life sentences for killing the couple and a shopkeeper. He was awaiting trial in two other slayings.